The substrate is what the fruit-bodies are directly growing on (apart from those that occur among the remains of animal carcasses). For agarics that are growing on the ground and not obviously on larger pieces of wood, look carefully at what the fruit-body is attached to when picked to see if it is actually growing on litter or mulch (rather than the soil).

If fruit-bodies are growing on the trunks of tree ferns, do not choose any options for this feature because mycorrhizal agarics (which otherwise only grow on the ground) often grow on tree ferns trunks associated with living roots of other plants that grow in the trunks. If on tree ferns, look around to see if fruit-bodies are also growing elsewhere to decide on the correct choice for this feature.

Choose this state if: fruit-bodies grow on the ground, in soil. They either grow on bare ground, or among herbs and grasses, or among light to dense leaf litter or mulch. When fruit-bodies are among grass, leaf litter or mulch, they are not attached to pieces of litter or wood, although leaves or twig fragments may adhere to the basal tomentum when fruit-bodies are picked. The underneath of the base of the stipe is either naked when picked, or only has soil adhering. In ambiguous cases, choose both soil or ground and litter or mulch.

Check that fruit-bodies are not attached to buried wood.

For fruit-bodies among grass in lawns or pastures, see also Associated vegetation.